“Ainsworth was a celebrated scholar and an excellent divine. His uncommon skill in Hebrew learning, and his excellent commentaries on the Scriptures are held in high reputation to this day.” – Brook’s Live of the Puritans

*** – “Thoroughly learned. Though old, not out of date.” – Spurgeon

Bythner, Victor – The Lyre of David, or, an Analysis of the Psalms, Critical and PracticalLatin d. 1670

Bythner (1605-1670) was reformed.

*** – “We agree with the statement found in the Preface of this work: ‘Nearly two centuries have passed away, since Bythner, uncertain of its reception, first committed his Lyra to public light; during which time, instead of sinking, it has advanced in estimation; being admitted by all the learned to be the very best work on the Psalms in Hebrew. The number of Hebrew radical words is 1867; of these, 1184 occur in the Psalms; it follows then, that a thorough knowledge of the language, and that Bythner’s Lyra, in being the best work on the Psalms, must be the best work on Hebrew in general.’ Our readers will scarcely need us to add that Bythner’s work is only useful to those who study the Hebrew.” – Spurgeon

These are brief summary notes and applications prefixed to each psalm in the psalter. Mainly for devotional use. Note that the available print-on-demand versions of this work by Nabu Press are a spectacularly unreadable farce. Do not waste your money on them.

*** – “It has been said that this author had no qualifications for a commentator except piety. This is not true, for he had natural poetry in his soul; and even if it were true, his work would go far to show how abundantly piety compensates for other deficiencies. He is among the best of our English writers on this part of Scripture, and certainly one of the most popular.” – Spurgeon

***– “Dr. Good was a medical gentleman with a large practice, and yet he managed to produce this learned volume. ‘I save every quarter of an hour for it,’ said he, ‘for my heart is in it.’ He was a man of great attainments and genuine piety. The progress made in Hebrew philology and exegesis since his day has been great; but his work has not been altogether superseded. It is of a high class, from a literary point of view, but must not be blindly followed.” – Spurgeon

*** – This is not a commentary, but may be regarded as an introduction to the work next mentioned, by the same author. Historical light is frequently the very best which can be cast upon a passage, and Dr. Good has known how to apply it. He may sometimes be thought fanciful, but he is never really speculative, and he almost always says something worth noting.” – Spurgeon

Murphy, James – A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the PsalmsBuy 1875

Murphy was an evangelical, professor of Hebrew in Belfast, Ireland.

*** – “This may be called a volume of compressed thought. The author has aimed at neither being too long nor too short. He has succeeded in producing a very useful and usable work, with many points of unusual value. Dr. Murphy is well known as an accomplished Hebraist and a lucid expositor. We have already noticed his works on Genesis and Exodus.” – Spurgeon

*** – “A masterpiece of extraordinary learning and critical skill, although not altogether what we would desire. The ‘Saturday Review’ said: ‘Mr. Perowne is probably as capable as anyone in England of doing all that Hebrew scholarship can do towards a better knowledge of the Psalms. the learning which he has brought together gives a value of its own to his book, and makes it an important contribution to a department of Biblical scholarship in which we are at present rather poorly furnished.'” – Spurgeon

‘Valuable exegetical studies by an Anglican theologian. The introductory essays on the poetry of the Hebrew, the theology of the Psalms, the probably origin and formation of the Psalter, and the inscriptions of the Psalms make rewarding reading.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Spurgeon’s characteristically unique commentary on the psalms and his extensive quotes from the best authors thereon are much better than what his modest comments below admit. This should be one of the first commentaries on the psalms that you buy. The online version may have a more convenient organization than the actual volumes (which are usually not too costly).

** – “To be completed in six volumes, if God permit. Reviewers have handled this book with remarkable kindness, and the public have endorsed their judgment by largely purchasing the volumes already issued. It would not become us to say more.” – Spurgeon

‘A classic in its field. Richly rewarding, deeply devotional and pleasingly relevant. Provides not only the thoughts of the great ‘Prince of Preachers’ of the last century, but also an abundance of quotations taken from the writings of those who have preceded him in the ministry of the Word.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Wilson, W. – The Psalms; with an Exposition, Typical and Prophetical of the Christian Dispensation, 2 vols. 1860

*** – “We have consulted Wilson with advantage and often quoted from him in the ‘Treasury of David’. He is a clear, gospel expositor, and has written much that is weighty and precious.”

Bonar, a minister in the Free Church of Scotland, exposits the psalms in addition to finding Christ in each one.

*** – “Of the highest order of merit. The author does not strain the text, but gives its real meaning. His remarks are always weighty, spiritual, and suggestive; we only wish there were more of them. He has cultivated brevity.” – Spurgeon

Strigel (1524-1569) was a Lutheran who later moved to Heidelberg and accepted the Reformed view of the Eucharist.

** – “This volume the expositor is not at all likely to see, and there is, therefore, the less need for us to speak of it. Strigellius was the friend of Luther and Melancthon, and a man of sound sense and vast learning.” – Spurgeon

** – “An experimental exposition by a Member of Parliament under the Commonwealth. Though not of the first order, many of his remarks are good. Abbot was nephew to the Archbishop of the same name.” – Spurgeon

* “The author was a Presbyterian Minister in the time of the Pretender [Charles II, in England, mid-1600’s], and we suspect that he was a high and dry Moderate. His comments were given at the public reading of the Scriptures, and although destitute of spirituality and Gospel clearness, they are not without a measure of originality.” – Spurgeon

Hammond was an Arminian, Latitudinarian Anglican. Nonetheless Matthew Henry was able to quote from him often.

** – “Much esteemed, and deservedly so. Hammond’s weighty tome is somewhat dry, and many of his remarks are rather those of a linguist than of a divine, but he touches on many matters which others omit, and is, upon the whole, an expositor of singular merit.” – Spurgeon

“In 1653, Arthur Jackson, Preacher of God’s Word in Wood Street, London, issued four volumes upon the Old Testament, which appear to have been the result of his pulpit expositions to his people. Valuable his works would be if there were no better, but they are not comparable to others already and afterwards mentioned. You can do without him, but he is a reputable author.” – Spurgeon

Nicholson, William – David’s Harp Strung and Tuned; or, an Easy Analysis of the Whole Book of PsalmsToC 1662

Nicholson (1591-1672) was a reformed Anglican.

“Wholly practical and explanatory. In his explication the author steers between the two extremes of literal and spiritual interpretation. Dr. Adam Clark has inserted Bishop Nicholson’s Analysis in his commentary on the Psalms, omitting his prayers.” – Horne

** – “This book fetches a high price when complete, and we cannot advise a poor man to lay out so much money upon it, good as it is.” – Spurgeon

‘Spiritual reflections after the high Calvinistic school. Some preachers cannot see Christ where He is, but Allen finds Him where He is not. There is in these reflections much godly savor, but very little exposition.’ – Spurgeon

This Allen was not the one that translated Calvin’s Institutes. James Darling said that Allen was an Antinomian (one who believes that Christians are not bound by moral injunctions). Antinomians, not believing that moral injunctions should be derived from God’s Word, often replaced this large aspect of Scripture’s teaching with finding Christ everywhere in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.

Bush, George – A Commentary on the Book of Psalms, on a Plan embracing the Hebrew Text: With a New Literal Version 1838

Bush was an American, initially presbyterian, Bible scholar, known principally for his commentaries on the Pentateuch.

** “Does not appear to have been reprinted in England.” – Spurgeon

Carter, Charles – The Psalms, newly Translated from the Hebrew 1869

** “The emendations are carefully made by the translator, who has been for many years engaged upon the Singalese version. A helpful book.” – Spurgeon

** “Useful for its quotations from the Fathers and ancient writers. The large type swells out a small quantity of material to a needless size, and so puts purchasers to an unnecessary expense.” – Spurgeon

Fry, John – A Translation and Exposition of the Psalms; on the Principles adopted in the posthumous work of Bishop Horsley; viz., that those sacred oracles have for the most part an immediate reference to Christ and to his first and second advents 1842

** “Fry follows Bishop Horsley and looks much to the second advent. The work is not fair either as a translation, or as an exposition. It is useful in its own direction, as showing how a peculiar theory has been supported by an able man; but it must not be implicitly relied upon.” – Spurgeon

** “Vigorous writing, with a propensity to indulge in new readings, and a persistent twist in one direction. The notes show the hand of a master, and have exerted much influence in directing thoughtful minds to the subject of the Second Advent, as foreshadowed in the Old Testament, but they must be used with extreme caution.” – Spurgeon

** “Jebb takes for his motto in translating, that saying of Hooker: ‘I hold it for an infallible rule in expositions of sacred Scripture, that were a literal construction will stand, the farthest from the letter is commonly the worst.’ His notes are scant, but his dissertations in the second volume are most admirable.” – Spurgeon

‘A masterful treatment. Defends the Messianic content of the Psalms, builds upon a detailed grammatical analysis of the text, provides valuable and informative historical material which supports the composition of many of these Psalms, and abounds in devotional comments.’ – Cyril J. Barber

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Advanced

1700’s

Chandler, Samuel – Commentary on the Psalms †1766

** “This is a masterpiece as a critical history, and the best of Chandler’s productions. Many of the Psalms are explained with commendable learning, but the spiritual element is absent.” – Spurgeon

** “It may be altogether our own fault, but we cannot make any use of this volume. No doubt these scholastic notes have a value; but commentaries upon inspired Scripture written in the same style as one might write upon Ovid or Horace are not to our taste. Gesenius [a Hebrew scholar] praises this work for its criticisms. We wish there had been a little religion in it, but perhaps if there had been it would have been the religion of neology [the new theology].” – Spurgeon

*** – “A bold version, with important notes. In this instance we confess that there may be real poetry in a metrical version, and though the flame does not in each composition burn with equal brilliance, yet in some verses it is the true poetic fire. Mant is no mean writer.” – Spurgeon

Morison, John – Exposition of the Book of Psalms, explanatory, critical, devotional, 2 vols. 1832

*** – “The first volume is the best. There is nothing very original, but it is an instructive exposition, and ought to be better known.” – Spurgeon

This work “is to a great extent a recast of” the author’s previous work on the Psalms, though without the Hebrew text, with “many corrections and amendments in every part”, and by an updating of the commentary with reference to the scholarship newly made available to the author since the author’s previous publication.

** “This author is held in high esteem for the ‘sound and savory’ character of his works. On the Psalms he writes to comfort and edification. The work is regarded as superexcellent by our extra-Calvinistic friends, but we do not think it quite worth the fancy price which is now asked.” – Spurgeon

** “Tholuck is one of the most spiritual of German interpreters. Though we cannot say that this is equal to some others of his works, yet he is a great writer, and always deserves attention.” – Spurgeon

** “Unique, and to very high churchmen most precious. We admire the learning and research; but the conceits, the twistings, and allegorical interpretations surpass conception. As a collection of medieval mysticisms it is unrivalled.” – Spurgeon

Dunwell, F.H. – Parochial Lectures on the Psalms from the Fathers of the Primitive Church 1855

** – “As a Father he is beyond ordinary criticism, or we would venture to say that he is too frequently mystical, and confounds plain texts. No theological library is complete without this work, for there are grand thoughts in it like huge nuggets of Australian gold.” – Spurgeon

**“Unique, and to very high churchmen most precious. We admire the learning and research; but the conceits, the twistings, and allegorical interpretations surpass conception. As a collection of medieval mysticisms it is unrivalled.” – Spurgeon

You will love the psalms more than ever after reading this book! Here is an easy to read fresh view into the background, history, development and teachings of the Psalms, from the best, uncompromisingly conservative scholarship. Includes chapters on the Messiah in the Psalms, Personal Religion, and the Imprecatory Psalms (the best on the subject). It also includes appendices on the development of psalm singing in the OT, its practice in the NT, and also throughout church history.

*** – “A highly valuable work. It is not an exposition, but can readily be used as such, for it possesses a good index to the passages treated of. Dr. Binnie reviews with great skill and intense devotion the various sacred poems contained in the Book of Psalms, and gives the general run and character of each one. His work is unlike any other, and supplies a great desideratum.” – Spurgeon

Fausset (1821–1910) was an Irish, evangelical, Anglican and Bible scholar. He is remembered for his part on the 2nd half of the Old Testament in the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary on the Whole Bible. This work here is very different than his commentary on the Psalms in the JFB Commentary.

‘A series of lectures on the events in the life of David which are subsequently reflected in the Psalms.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Throughout the Psalms, the psalmist says ‘I will’ do these certain things. He is committed, by the Spirit of God, to being a doer of the Word: of trusting God, praying, teaching others, praising God, of doing what God says and more. Power traces these teachings throughout the Psalter in order to stir us up, as we all need, to be men and ladies of God like the Psalmist.

Philip Bennett Power (1822-99) served as a pastor in the Church of England from 1846 to 1865. The last 34 years of his life he was an invalid, being made strong in his weakness.

This book is arranged in the order of the 150 psalms, giving anecdotes on how each psalm has been used in history. As some psalms are briefly mentioned under the notes of other psalms, see theIndex at the beginning of the book for an exhaustive reference to your psalm of interest.